Helena

Courtesy Helena

Why?Portus Calle is in its blood.

There’s no dearth of Portuguese restaurants in Montreal. But while many of us set out for the nearest seasoned-chicken-and-fries plate at the first sign of hunger, the city is also home to an ever-growing number of fine-dining options for those who crave upscale Iberian flavour. You can add Helena, a new addition to the Old Montreal scene, to that list. You may recognize its founder, Helena Loureiro, as the chef behind Portus Calle. Loureiro’s new venture serves classic seafood and poultry dishes amid sleek décor. It may not be the cheapest Portuguese in the city, but it’s among the tastiest. And that’s enough to draw us away from our many Plateau haunts.